Connected cars and smart road infrastructure

The Internet of Things is already here – Owners of certain cars can receive software updates over the air, we can get fresh traffic info to avoid the worst jams and some cars can automatically notify an emergency response center in case of an accident.

The possibilities for traffic and transportation infrastructure are endless, especially given the vast amounts of data that suddenly becomes available when more and more vehicles, as well as the roads and rails, become connected. Some countries even say they will push mandatory vehicle-to-vehicle communication in new cars to boost safety.

Some opportunities in automotive and smart road infrastructure

A safer traffic environment through connected adaptive cruise control where your car can adapt the speed well in advance of potential risks or jams.

A personalized driving experience, possibly across makes and models. Imagine picking up a rental car and it immediately knows how you want your seat, steering wheel and mirrors positioned, not to mention what music or radio station you want to listen to.

Energy efficiency. Overhead lighting on lesser used roads can go on automatically as you approach and turn off when you have passed.

Car pools can optimize usage and pricing of their cars as they always know where each car is and how much it is utilized.

Supply chains can be made more efficient by real-time tracking of vehicles and their cargo.

Manufacturers will learn over time to interpret data from the many sensors in the vehicle to predict various types of problems well in advance of them happening, avoiding costly stand-stills.